Carving in the famous Ajanta caves was first started during the reign of the

Q. Carving in the famous Ajanta caves was first started during the reign of the

1. Rashtrakutas
2. Satavahanas
3. Marathas
4. Kadambas

Answer: Satavahanas

Satavahana Dynasty

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The Satavahanas also referred to as the Andhras in the Purana were an ancient Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE, although some assign the beginning of their rule to as early as the 3rd century BCE. The Satavahana kingdom mainly comprised the present-day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. At different times, their rule extended to parts of modern Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The dynasty had different capital cities at different times, including Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota).
Sculptures of Amravati represents the architecture development of the Satavahana periods. They built Buddhist stupas in Amravati (95 feet high).They also constructed a large number of stupas at Goli, Jaggiahpeta, Gantasala and Amravati Bhattiprolu and, Shri Parvatam. Caves IX and X of Ajanta paintings were patronized by Satavahana. Ashokan Stupas were enlarged the earlier bricks and wood works were replaced with stone works. In the field of carving and paintings, Satavahanas art was marked, in the caves of Ajanta the paintings was started with the Satavahanas. The most famous of these monuments are the stupas. Among, them the Amravati Stupa and the Nagarjunakonda Stupa are most famous.